Thanks for the comments fellas.Re the call of nature- Taking a leak while onboard is acceptable but anything else will still be land based. There was way too much info in that WA post Geordie!

Slaughter,The bivvy itself is waterproof. The problem though is trying to keep everything dry when getting in/out if it's raining. That's the reason for the tarp. A single person tent would be better for this but you're right about the low profile of the bivvy being a benefit in strong winds. It also doesn't flap.One thing I noticed sleeping on board was that a wind gust would rock the kayak noticeably. I was wondering how the hammock copes with that. Is the rocking worse being up higher or does the pendulum action counteract the rocking?

Because the the hammock has to be slightly offset due to the mast support bracket I find that the AI lists to one side floating on the main hull and 1 Ama with the other Ama off the water. The hammock does rock slightly but in fact it's quite relaxing and never an issue. I've never stayed overnight in a strong wind yet. The Cooper anchor has always held well but I also tie off to a tree as a backup.

How long were you out on the water. Do you reckon DogsLife's record is up for grabs ?

@Stringy: Brilliant! You totally nailed it mate. I think your setup will be the most acceptable solution yet for a lot of people.

@Slaughter: Hi Russ. How was Tassy? I slept overnight in the hammock in fairly high winds that night at Broughton (admittedly with the boat up on the sand) and also a couple of times on my dam. I didn't have too much problem with the fly, but I think that's because I tension it with the Mirage drive, used as a counterweight. I've always camped in the shallows and used a stakeout pole to moor the boat securely.

Everytime you get in that bivvy Stringy, you get a big smile on your face. Especially when you can't see your hands.

Chris, Stringy, Arno ( well it is his post ) how does your calendar look for an overnighter on Pulbah. We can arrive from different directions, stay the night and compare setups, and when the authorities come to arrest us we can read to them the definition of camping from the Oxford Dictionary. The better beach is well protected from Southerlies or Westerlies but not so good from Easterlies or Northerlies.

That's just the AI grin. As I don't have to leave the kayak now it's a permanent grin!An overnighter or two sounds great but who needs Pulbah Island when you are already on an Island... or indeed are one already! (thanks KB)I'm really keen to explore Cowan/Smiths Creeks in a bit more detail.

Circumstances are making it difficult for me to get away overnight for the time being, but I gotta agree with Stringy that Cowan Waters and all its tributaries offer lots of variety. Also lots of sheltered bays for weathering high winds. Kayaks are permitted to moor anywhere within the marine park. Other boats have to fight it out for the allocated mooring buoys.

No man is an island,Entire of itself.Each is a piece of the continent,A part of the main.If a clod be washed away by the sea,Europe is the less.As well as if a promontory were.As well as if a manor of thine ownOr of thine friend's were.Each man's death diminishes me,For I am involved in mankind.Therefore, send not to knowFor whom the bell tolls,It tolls for thee.

The failure of the tarp over the bivy meant that I needed to come up with a better shelter when anchored to protect from rain and that wouldn't act like a sail or flap in the breeze. After trying some different tarps and even an umbrella, without success, I thought about boat biminis. They are designed to sit flat for low wind resistance and are made of the right marine suited materials.I ordered a 4 bow 2.4m long by 1.9m wide bimini. It weighs 8kg.Folded up it fits OK behind the seat and the legs are out of the way so that haka can still be fitted.It's easy to set up:Slide it back and remove the storage bag

Unfold it and secure the straps to the ama padeye.I had hoped to test it on water this week but it took me a bit longer to fit than I planned. Hoping to test it next week.